Inhaler



(No Model.)

H. M. DUNLAP. INHALBR.

No. 577,681. Patented Feb. 23,, .1897.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS linrrnn Starts Parent Urrrcn.

HARLEY M. DUNLAP, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

INHALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,681, dated February 23, 1897.

Application filed J'anuaryd, 1896. smart. 574,291. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARLEY M. DUNLAP, of Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Cushion for Inhaling-Masks and Similar Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in the cushioned surfaces or margins of inhaling cups or masks and similar articles requiring cushioned margins.

The object of the invention is to provide a cushion which may be conveniently and expeditiously placed in position upon or re moved from the mask, the cushion bein g elastic and pliable, readily adapting itself to the face, whereby the cushion may be readily removed for cleaning or disinfecting and quickly replaced, or whereby a number of persons using the same instrument may each have a cushion, if desired, and apply it to the cup or mask when it is desired to make use of it.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cushion for face masks or cups which will be comparatively inexpensive and wherein when the cushion is to be renewed it can be done much more economically than at present.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inhaling mask or cup viewed from the top and illustrating the application of the improved cushion thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional View through the cup, illustrating the manner in which the cushion is attached to the same; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view through a portion of the cup and cushion, illustrating a slight modification in the manner of attaclr ing the cushion to the cup.

The cup A may be of any desired material or may be of any necessary shape. Ordinarily, however, the top portion of the cup is provided with a recess A, so as to accommodate the nose and permit the nostrils and mouth to be entirely contained within the cup or mask. The cup or mask is further provided with the usual inlet-opening 10, in connection with which a rigid tube 11 is employed to receive a flexible tube 12, whereby connectionis made with the source of gas or other supply.

The margin of the cup or mask is provided with a flange which may consist of a single outwardly-extending member 13, as shown in Fig. 2, or of two members 13 and 14, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the latter member extending inwardly from the inner wall of the cup as the member 13 extends outwardly from its outer wall.

The cushion B is preferably made from rubber and is shaped to adapt itself to the marginal portion of the cup or mask A. The cushion is provided with an annular chamber 14c and with a depending section 15 at its bottom, the said depending section being provided with a vertical slot 16, receiving that portion of the cup or mask adjacent to its flange, and a transverse slot or opening 17, which is shaped correspondingly to the shape of the flange of the said cup or mask.

The chamber 14 is adapted to contain air either at normal pressure, depending on the elasticity of the walls or the flexibility of the cushion, or the said cushion may be :filled with air under more or less pressure above that of the atmosphere, as may be desired. It is obvious that under this construction a cushion is obtained which is capable of ready and convenient attachment to the cup or mask, and when attached will be virtually locked thereto without the use of any cement or adhesive material whatsoever, and whereby, further, the cushion may be as conveniently and readily removed for the purpose of cleaning the same or for disinfecting it. The cushion, furthermore, is comparatively inexpensive, as heretofore stated, and presents a yielding surface to the face of the user of the mask or cup, and will provide a substantially air-tight seal between the cup or mask and the face. Preferably the opening which is adapted to receive the margin of the inhaling mask or cup is produced in the bottom or inner portion of the cushion and is not in communication with its airchamber.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A cushion for inhaling masks or cups or any similar article requiring a cushioned margin, the said cushion consisting of a tube 7 adapted to contain air and provided with an attaching-section, the said attaching-section being slotted vertically and transversely I whereby it is adapted to receive the marginal portion of the article to be cushioned together with a flange thereon, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an inhaling mask or cup provided with a marginal flange, of a cushion, comprising a tube adapted to contain air and a depending section provided with a continuous vertical slot adapted toi receive that portion of the cup adjacent to its flange,- and a continuous transverse slot adapted to receive the marginal flange of the mask or cup, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with an inhaling mask or cup or a similar article provided at its margin with an outwardly-extending flange, of an elastic cushion removably connected with the said mask or cup, the said cushion having a depending section tapering toward its lower edge, and provided with a continuous angular slot opening at the lower edge of the depending section, the said angular slot having a vertical portion and a transverse portion extending outwardly from the upper part of the vertical portion the said slot being shaped to correspond with the outwardly-extending marginal flange and the portion of the mask or cup adjacent thereto, and adapted to receive the same, as and for the purpose specified.

HARLEY M. DUN'LAP.

Witnesses:

JOHN ANKENEY STARR, J L. MARTIN. 

